Improvement in tire-tighteners



UNITEIJf STATES PATENT 'OFFICE MARTIN J. JENKINS, OF CHILLICOTHE, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN TIRE-TIGHTENERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 152,118, dated June 16, 1874; application filed April 11, 1874.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, MAnTiN J. JENKINS, of Chillicothe, Livingston county, Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tire-Tighteners, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to an improved tretightener; and consists in mortising between the fellies two plates, the opposite faces of which are provided with vertical slots, tapering toward the hub, and forming a wedgeshaped cavity to receive a correspondinglyshaped piece of metal provided with a screw projecting upon the inner side of lthe fellies, and there provided with a nut for drawing the wedge, and thus expanding the plates. The junction ofthe plates is covered by a cap, the upper edges of which are connected by a tiebolt passing between the fellies and plates, which are properly recessed for that purpose. The nut upon the standard aforesaid may be placed as stated, or soas to bear against the cap, a hole being cut in the latter to permit .the passage of the screw. rlhe object of the invention is to provide a convenient device for tightening the tires of vehicles, and thus avoid the labor of resetting them.

Figure lis a view of a device embodying the invention as applied. Fig. 2 is a top view of same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section, the wedge removed. Fig. 4 is a detached view of the plate B. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the wedge E. Fig. 6 is a like view of the cap H. Fig.

7 is a corresponding view of the bolt I and heads.

A in the accompanying drawings represents the fellies, the ends of which are provided with the vertical slot a. The plate B consists of a piece of metal provided with the fianges d, between which is the slot D, which is deeper on its upper than lower end, tapering from top to bottom. The upper part of the plate and angcs has a transverse recess, e. The area of the plate is coincident with the end of the felly, except as to the recessed parts. The flanges fit over the surface of the felly adjacent, while the bulk of the plate B enters the recess a, the recess c being toward the outer side of the felly. Thus, when the plates B are in position, a wedge-shaped cavity is formed by the slots D, a recess across their upper portions by the recesses e, while the anges d impinge. The wedge E is conA structed to iit snugly in the cavity between the slots D ,the recess h on its head corresponding to the width of the recess between the outer ends of the plates B. A screw, F, is secured to the point of the wedge, extending toward the hub, and provided with a nut, 'L'. The cap H is bent to conform to the inner and side surfaces ofthe fellies adjacent their junction, open on its outer side, and provided with the slots m, which, when the plates B are in position, are opposite the recess in their outer ends. The lower portion of the cap has an aperture, a, to permit the passage of the screw F. The upper sides of' the cap are connected by the bolt I, provided with the heads p, which project slightly above the fellies, and furnish .aside support for tie L, which holds the bolt to its place, the shaft of the bolt being conformed to fit into the recesses e and slots m, in such manner that the outer surface shall be iiush with the outer curve of the adjacent fellies.

The device being in the position stated, to expand the fellies it is'only necessary to screw up .the nut i, which draws down the wedge E, thus increasing the distance between the plates B, and effecting the object of the invention, while a contrary movement forces the wedge E outward, and allows the plates to approach each other, thus loosening the fellies.

The purpose of the bolt I is to prevent foreign matter entering the device, and to give lateral support to the tire or fellies. The cap H is useful to seal the joint and aii'ord a bearing for the nut I.

It is obvious that the cap H and bolt I can be used singly or conjointly.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The plates B, provided with the slots D, in combination with the wedge E, provided with the screw F and nut z', substantially as shown and described.

2. The cap H, in combination with the boltl In testimony that I claim the foregoing iin- I, substantially as shown and described. provement in tire tighteners, as above de- 3. The combination of the plates 13,. wedge scribed, I have hereunto set my hand and E, screw F, nut 1'., and cap H, substantially as seal this 2d doy of April, 1874.

shown and described. MARTIN J. JENKINS. [L. S.]

4. The combination of Jdie plates B, Wedge Vitnesses: E, screw F, and bolt I, substantially as shown l JOHN I. FRIEST,

and described. ERAsTUs LEACH. 

